Kuttanad is known for its ritual extravaganza of water sports. The much celebrated snake boat races are main attractions of the region. Most of these races are scheduled in the months of July, August and September. The well known tournaments of the season are the Nehru Trophy boat race of Alapuzha, and the Chambakulam, Karuvatta, Payippad, Mannar, Kumarakom, Neerettupuram and Pulincunnu boat races. Altogether there are about 25 boat races held every year in Kuttanad.

The large snake boats called Chundanvallams, each rowed by more than 100 sturdily built rowers, are an unbelievable sight to watch. Kuttanad has 18 such large snake boats in operation. In addition, there are other categories of smaller sized race boats such as Veppu , Churulan, and Iruttukuthi each rowed by thirty to fifty rowers taking part in the festivals and water sports. The boat races attract thousands of tourists and sport lovers from all over the world.

The Nehru Trophy snake boat race, considered to be the biggest water spot event in the world, is held on the second Saturday of August every year. All the snake boats of Kuttanad and numerous other smaller sized boats take part in that much trumpeted mega event which is also a major draw for tourists from all over the world. The tournament is organized in the Punnamada kayal, which is part of the Vembanad lake.

The Chambakulam and Payippad boat races are important events since they are related to the temple rituals. The Chambakulam race is the first one in the calendar of sporting events. It is linked to the legendary theft and installation of a deity’s idol in the Ambalapuzha Hindu temple. Several centuries ago, during the reign of the Chembakaserry Rajas, the king’s soldiers stole a perfectly cast idol of Lord Krisha from a temple in the adjoining village of Kurichi. As they brought the idol their country, they kept it hiding near a Christian household in Chambakulam. The next day, accompanied by a large procession of devotees who came in their snake boats the idol was brought to Ambalapuzha. The boat race is held every year in the month of July to commemorate that event.